Parents Against Negative Intervention by CYFS
PANIC PO Box 9078 Palmerston North

August 14, 2000


Attention: Editor/Chief Reporter


Press Statement - Parent Support Group Pushes Reform of CYFS

The destructive nature of many family interventions by the Child Youth & Family Service demands comprehensive measures to reform an organisation out of control, says PANIC, Parents against negative intervention by CYFS.

Director, John Tonson, states that changes are needed to halt the all too frequent and unjustified removal of children from basically safe homes resulting from false allegations, inadequate investigation and arbitrary decisions by unprofessional social workers.

CYFS has become so obsessed with keeping children safe that it tends to have a witch-hunt mentality, it often exaggerates every day events out of all proportion, and is predisposed to removing children when some minimal intervention, at most, is required, claims Mr Tonson.

Suggestions for reform put forward by Mr Tonson include:
* Care & Protection Panels which generally decide on the uplift of children, need wider representation, that is, including child and parent advocates from outside the associated professions, so as to provide a more balanced approach to C&P deliberations.

* The uplift of children by 'ex parte' (urgent one-party) orders, which occurs far too often, must have substantial safeguards applied to drastically reduce removals conducted without "reasonable grounds". Parents must be fully informed of their legal right to oppose the removal of their child or children in the Family Court.

* The leadership of managers at the highest levels of the department must be evaluated and new personnel with the welfare of children and the whole family truly at heart installed wherever needed. The present leadership of CYFS has failed to ensure a balanced application of the CYPF Act 1989. The leaders must have a concept of service to families as a whole as well as to protect children, a vision of empowering families and listening to children, and a commitment to ensure accountability of all in the department.

* The selection and training of social workers must be substantially upgraded so that only the right kind of personnel with professional attitudes are employed. Training should include instruction in communication and counselling skills, the principles and ethics of professional social work, and considerable emphasis on investigation skills.

* A comprehensive code of ethics and conduct must be introduced and become a publically recognised standard by which all interested parties may evaluate and judge the activities of social workers.

* A fully independent and powerful Complaints Authority, such as a CYFS Ombudsman, must be set up with clear procedures to enable "clients" to make complaints and have them heard, and also for the conduct of social workers to be investigated.

* 7. There must be more rigorous standards for approving caregivers and foster parents and periodic reviews of their performance with accountability enforced for their actions.

PANIC was formed two years ago to support parents treated unjustly by CYFS, and to assist them to regain custody of their children where they have been wrongfully deprived of them".

The organization is also called "Te Whare Roimata," House of Tears, which symbolises the pain and grief which both children and whanau experience when they are torn apart by CYFS.

For more details please contact Director John Tonson
Home email: jktonson@inspire.net.nz










A few of our key concerns in the operations of CYF

1. The lack of professionalism of many social workers: overzealous actions, punitive attitudes, narrow focus on finding out what is wrong, arrogant and dictatorial approach, lack of sensitivity and compassion.

2. The views of children not being heard or asked for by social workers, not being put forward to FGCs as the law requires. Their views may be heard through psychological assessments and in the Family Court but this is usually after the damage has been done.

3. Failure of CYF to inform parents of their rights and of the information concerning their children when in care. Failure to consult and investigate properly.

4. Failure of CYF to provide appropriate and much needed support and counselling to both children and parents while children are in care or when returned to the family.

5. Overall both children and parents suffer unnecessary intervention of an extreme and destructive kind which amounts to continual oppression and degrading treatment. Not only is there incompetence at all levels of CYF, the department's performance provides evidence of nothing less than corruption and evil.